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As the U.S. Army and Installation Management Command face a changing environment, one characterized by reduced resources, leaders at Carlisle Barracks are committed to preserving quality of life on the installation despite constraints affecting military morale, welfare and recreation programs.

Since 1989, U.S. Congress has appropriated funds to cover Family, Morale, Welfare and Recreation programs with a direct link to readiness, including fitness centers. Recreational programs across the Army will be reduced by $105 million in fiscal year 2017. Carlisle Barracks’ share will be a $192,000 reduction which equates to approximately 15 percent of the appropriated funds from previous years.

Army facilities such as outdoor recreation, auto skills, travel offices, arts and crafts, bowling and child and youth programs are less directly related to readiness and receive a lower authorization of appropriated funds and typically must cover the majority of their cost with user fees. Other programs, such as golf courses and clubs must be self-supporting with user fees covering all costs.

During the last few weeks, Carlisle Barracks leaders closely scrutinized all MWR programs to determine how to address the shortfall. Facility and program utilization were analyzed with a focus on meeting the needs of the Carlisle Barracks community.

“It’s of critical importance to the command at Carlisle Barracks to continue offering quality services from MWR that you’ve come to expect for you and your families,” said Lt. Col. Greg Ank, Garrison Commander, when speaking of the reduction in funding. “We have taken a hard look at usage rates and our most popular activities to ensure we continue to serve you the best we can with the resources we maintain.”

Ank said he was proud of the programs offered by MWR and thanked the community for helping to sustain them.

Following the re-balance of MWR’s appropriated funds, there have been changes to the hours of operations for the three on-post fitness centers. The Indian Field and Root Hall gyms will close an hour earlier during the week and will be closed on weekends. The changes create an anticipated $53,000 in savings in manpower costs.

Effective Oct. 1, the following changes will be in effect:

Indian Field Fitness Center Open Monday-Friday, 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. Closed on weekends

Additionally other business decisions were made internally to reduce costs. DFMWR is also exploring the implementation of user fees for fitness classes, much like exists off-post. More information will be made available before the new fee schedule is implemented. It is expected to take effect in early 2017.

For more information on how the cuts affect IMCOM installations nationwide watch the video from Lt. Gen. Kenneth Dahl, IMCOM Commander at https://youtu.be/JyDtOgqdXEc